since i teach a workshop in mobile photography i thought it would be fitting to share some of my favorite iphone-only photographers that i have come across on instagram.

it’s amazing to see what this tool can do and looking at photos like these are part of my daily inspiration re-up.

next up is jason hudson.

i had the luck of finding his feed early on in my time with this fun little app. i think, if i’m not mistaken, his feed was a suggested one to follow right from the jump.

and with good reason. his photos are consistent, but not predictable; beautiful, but not pretty; and somewhat themed, but definitely not boring.

by following his feed i have learned, among other things, a lot about composition, colour and repetition. all of which appeal to my visual sensibility.

his photos are really beautiful to look at.

and he is hilariously dry, a little sarcastic and fiercely loyal. that is, from what i gather.

his palette changes with the seasons. or location, for that matter. while not totally on the go, he has lead a very nomadic lifestyle in the last few years. traveling around the world from australia to amsterdam last year, to holing up in bahrain for the past six or so months. to say his photos cure/ignite my wanderlust is an understatement.

his photos tell a story of far away places, wandering, and because he shares so much the places ended up being refreshingly familiar.

since i think he’s so cool, i had to holler at him and pick his brain a bit on a few things. some to do with photography and some to do with.. life.

dig in if you’re a curious cat like me.

me: tell me a little about yourself.

him: oh god, i haven’t had to put myself into words in a long time! i honestly don’t know how. i’m a 33 year old person.

me: what would close loved ones say about you?

him: i think they’d say i’m enthusiastic and wacky. that i’m passionate about unexpected things. that i’m funny and smart. i like tidbits of information and facts.

me: what is/are your favourite things to shoot?

him: commercially, i like shooting food and spaces. artistically i like shooting people. i always like taking pictures of buildings and places. i like telling stories, so for me words and photos are sort of inextricably linked.

i like telling stories, so for me words and photos are sort of inextricably linked.

me: you’ve been around the world. do you have a favourite place? or top three and why?

him: you’re killing me. how do i choose? we always say bali, new zealand, and amsterdam. but i sincerely love every place i’ve ever been because, i mean, i just feel so lucky to have been there.

bali is beautiful and special. the people are great. there are so many parts that haven’t been squashed by tourism. it’s really bound by tradition and religion, but in a decidedly non-restrictive way. hinduism, of course, is unlike most formal religions.

new zealand is like another world. in a simple 2 hour drive the landscape could change 14 times. it’s mysterious and sparse and untouched. but also super familiar, in that it’s a commonwealth nation. so it sort of feels like canada, but with those accents and palm trees.

amsterdam was fun. and adorable. we rented a houseboat on the canal and enjoyed atypical weather (sunny and hot) so it was just this perfect combo. it felt like canadian cottage country. and we got to smoke pot for the first time in a while, which was fun.

when i’m really needing a spark, i don’t do or seek anything.

me: current inspiration and influences vs your youth inspiration and influences. has there been a big shift or steady growth over time?

him: music has always been a big one for me, though i don’t know if i’d describe any one thing as “inspirational”. like, when i’m really needing a spark, i don’t do or seek anything. i’m a typical creative - at my least-inspired, i probably do the worst thing, which is shut down completely and go into some sort of anxiety-driven depressive state. so at an inspiration-low-point, it’s probably not the best time to try to be creative. you gotta wait for it to pass and hop on when it’s already moving. it’s a timing thing. i tend to let myself ebb and flow and i don’t get too involved. i’m not a great self-motivator.

me: how did you spend your youth?

hanging with my best friend (20 years of friendship this year!) going to the mall, hanging in her bedroom playing music. singing and dancing and being silly. being sentimental and nostalgic. we could reminisce within hours of an experience. now that i think of it, i do that with most people i’m close with. the need to tell stories, i suppose. i mythologize my life instantaneously. i don’t know why that is. probably a comfort mechanism. my grandmother was a big storyteller. when we were quite young, she and my sister and i would have sleepovers and we’d request certain stories time and time again. i think life looks better in retrospect, when you can clear away the clutter and get to the essential truth of it. or the part that feels most true. i like perspective.

i mythologize my life instantaneously. i don’t know why that is. probably a comfort mechanism.

me: can you share a handful of your own iphone tips/apps that you use?

him: ig, afterlight, snapseed, skrwt, retouch.
if you only do one edit, straighten your damn horizon lines!

(note: after jason told me about skrwt, it has been one of my must-use apps! get it. get it now!)

me: who are some of your favourite photographers whose work you love? on insta or otherwise.

him: ritts, testino, liebovitz, seliger. i love the classic celebrity portraitists of my youth. i remember being so enamoured by the original us magazine and 90s vanity fair. portraits of princess diana. the vf hollywood issue.

and on ig - @dearleila, @timrobisonjr, @taraobrady, @nazfilms, @ryan__marshall

you can connect with this good ol’ canadian boy on his instagram, twitter or his blog.

thanks so much for sharing jason.

x

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the good shot is a visual feature i share about people who take absolutely gorgeous, yet simple, story-telling photos with their iphone only. get inspired people, captured moments like these are only a click away.

it is also the name of the workshop i teach on mobile photography for your blog, business + home. the next class will be this summer.

have an insta account you love that you think i should follow? talk to me. you can find me on instagram, fb or twitter.

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